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Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger has backed Jack Wilshere to fulfil his potential and have a ‘huge’ career ahead of him.

This could potentially be the biggest season in Jack Wilshere’s Arsenal career so far. The England international is yet to fulfil his early career promise, but Arsene Wenger has expressed his faith in the midfielder to do so this season, provided he stays fit.

When Jack Wilshere made his first team debut for Arsenal in 2008, he was hailed as the next best thing in English football as the youngster showed tremendous promise and determination. But six years down the line, his career seemed to have stagnated a bit, as pointed out by Paul Scholes lately, as he has struggled with his fitness and inconsistent form.

Last season Wilshere made 19 starts in the Premier League as Aaron Ramsey moved up the pecking order. With Arsenal in the market for another midfielder and Ramsey making himself un-droppable, Wilshere will have to perform to maintain his place in the side. But the midfielder has made a bright start to the season and looks determined to silence his critics.

Arsene Wenger has also backed Wilshere to have a ‘huge’ career ahead of him and the Frenchman insisted that the most important challenge for him is to stay fit for the whole of this season.

“Before he was in Calum Chambers’ position, then suddenly when you get to 22 the expectation level comes on you. Wayne Rooney has gone through that, now it goes through Wilshere.

“I believe at the moment he should not respond to it, just focus on his game. If Wilshere can maintain physically to be fit then he will make a huge career.

“At the moment, I believe he should just focus on that – being fit, present and to improve physically. The rest will come along. I told him the target is for him to have a whole season of being available to play.

“I think he is on target of where he should be. He is not as far as everyone expected him to be from when he was 18. But he’s not as far because he was injured, not because he doesn’t train seriously.

“He is a guy who when he goes out there, he wants to play, he works hard but he was out for one-and-a-half years.” – The Arsenal manager said.